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Aikido moves towards the perfection of the world, the perfection of mankind and the perfection of all on behalf of world peace becoming one life. In other words, Aikido is training in attracting all to you. Instead of having enemies you absorb and harmonize them into your self.
O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba the founder of aikido

I believe that world peace and the welfare of humankind must be realized through the spirit that judo brings about.
When you practice judo, you must perfect yourself and contribute to society through this practice and you must emphasize the importance of this during your teaching to others.
Judo is not merely a martial art but rather the basic principle of human behaviour.
Jigoro Kano the founder of judo

Sometimes people ask if crosstraining will help their training. It is a personal choice and crosstraining is certainly not necessary. In Japanese there is a saying: nito o oumono wa itto o moezu 二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず. If you chase two rabbits you might end up not catching even one. There is a danger in being a dilettante dan collector. On the other hand crosstraining can help you understand aikido more deeply and can even make your aikido better.

In a judo forum there was a thread about what judo could learn from aikido. It was meant mostly in an organizational sense. But I think it is a good question from any point of view. And it's a good question to ask in both directions. This is a personal and certainly not exhaustive list of what judoka can learn from aikido and what aikidoka can learn from judo. Sometimes these are complementary and corollary. For example the approach to ma ai in judo and aikido is different but an understanding of both might help in an overall understanding of budo. I hope I have been objective and non-judgemental. Aikido and judo are both wonderful martial arts.

What judoka can learn from aikido

Irimi. How to enter towards an attacker. Tenkan. How to turn away from an attack.Musubi. How to blend with an attack. How to use the connection to the attacker.Kuzushi. The aikido concept of kuzushi - breaking the balance.Weapons. How to use weapons. How weapons relate to taijutsu - unarmed techniques.Atemi. How to use atemi - striking techniques - and how not to get hit by atemi. Kansetsu waza. Learn some joint techniques with a slightly different emphasis.Mushin. Empty mind. Learn to do techniques naturally with the body, not by planning a strategy.Suwari waza (kneeling techniques) and hanmi handachi waza (kneeling techniques against a standing attack). Learning techniques in three dimensions.Taninzu gake. Learn to deal with multiple attackers and the concept that there can always be multiple attackers. Kokyu. Learn breathing as part of the technique.Ma ai. The critical distance. How to deal with attacks at a greater distance. Omote and ura. The concept of a technique having two versions or two faces (obverse/forward and reverse).Realistic self-defence. For example face-down katame waza/osaekomi - immobilization techniques/holddowns.Spiritual dimension. Aikido probably has a more developed spiritual philosophy. Universality. Men and women train together naturallyAgeless. Aikido can be practised comfortably by people in their seventies or eighties.

What aikidoka can learn from judo

Ne waza. Ground techniques. What to do if an attack ends up on the ground. This is also training in three dimensions.Koshi waza. Judoka generally have excellent koshi waza - hip techniques. koshi waza for aikidoka postAshi waza. Ashi waza - leg and foot techniques - are usually completely ignored in aikido. ashi waza for aikidoka postKuzushi. The judo concept of kuzushi: kuzushi, tsukuri and kake phases - breaking the balance, preparation and execution.Ma ai. How to deal with attacks at a very close grappling distance. Randori. Free practice with both partners trying to execute techniques. Randori does exist in aikido in the judo sense in the style established by Kenji Tomiki who saw aikido through the eyes of a judoka. How to deal with an actively resisting uncooperative attacker who is trying to throw you.Kata. Although aikido is kata based it is in rather a free way. It is good sometimes to study the precision and the rigorousness of formal kata - stylized forms.Shiai. I don't believe the sport aspect of shiai - contests - should be incorporated into aikido. But shiai in judo have positive aspects.Shime waza. Learn effective choking/strangling techniques.Kansetsu waza. Learn some joint techniques with a slightly different emphasis.Sutemi waza. How to do sacrifice techniques (which are not much used in aikido).Educational value. Jigoro Kano specifically designed judo to have an educational dimension. Seiryoku zenyo. The principle of achieving the maximum effect with the minimum effort.Jita kyoei. Mutual welfare and benefit is a basic social principle of judo. Jika no kansei. Striving for perfection as a complete person.The Kodokan, National Federations and the IJF. Single organizations! From the fractured world of aikido it seems an enviable and utopian system.

Hi, my nane is José Vicente. I'm editor of KOKYU-DOSA (kokyu-dosa.blogspot.com) My english isn´t very well, but i want to say you, that your posts are fantastic.You have a magnificent power to comnicate, please teke me a fan of his work.
I read your space frecuently, but in spanish, because my friend, Carina always give us many of his writings.
Finally, Naill please continue sharing with us your beautiful experiences. All Aikido's lover will be greatful.

Osaekomi is a holddown or pin and shiai is a match. In judo you can win a shiai by holding down your opponent. But judo holddowns are with the opponent face up - and often with the hands free to counter - so they are unsuitable for self-defence. In aikido katame waza - immobilizations - are face down mostly and much safer. Cheers Billy. All the best, Niall

Sorry about that, Billy. I should have checked it yesterday. I added them now. Kuzushi is breaking the balance. In judo there is the concept of breaking a throw into three phases: kuzushi, tsukuri and kake - breaking the balance, preparing the throw and executing the throw.

Niall, one of the joys I get from teaching Aikido is observing how the perceptions of my keener students change as time passes. They often tell me about Aikido youtube clips they have been watching and about how impressed they were. I always say, you can't see Aikido you feel it. Who they watch changes and I am pleased and impressed with the changes. Billy

Hi Billy - thanks for that! Sorry if some of the Japanese isn't clear. Mostly I put the meanings beside the phrase but sometimes I forget. I'll add some more now - is there anything special you'd like me to explain?

Thanks Niall! As always a very interesting and enjoyable blog: I have sent the link to all of our club members as I think they should all read this one. I wish I understood all the Japanese in the blog. I was alright with about 80%ish, Thanks again keep them coming. Kindest, Billy